Poland’s decision to stop arming Ukraine is prompted by president-elect Andrzej Duda, who campaigned on a platform of closer ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The move was seen by many as a way for Duda to ease tensions with Russia.
The war in Ukraine began in 2014 when Russian-backed separatists in the eastern part of the country launched an offensive, taking several cities and sections by force. Since then, Ukraine has been fighting a war against them, with some support from the West. Poland has been one of the main contributors to the effort, providing weapons and military aid to help Ukraine’s army.
Russia has long opposed the arming of Ukraine, accusing the West of trying to use the war as a means to undermine its influence. Putin and Duda’s agreement is an effort to prevent any escalation in the conflict and improve relations between the two countries.
It remains to be seen what will happen with the war in Ukraine, as the decision to stop supplying arms could be viewed as a sign of weakness from the West, leading to further aggression from the separatists. Russia is still likely to continue its aggressive posture in the region, and it’s unclear if the halt in arms shipments will actually have a tangible effect on the conflict.
